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News Feature, October 2, 2008

Armstrong responds to testing times

Lance Armstrong has responded to a proposal by the French Anti-Doping Authority
(AFLD) that it re-test urine samples taken from him during the 1999 Tour de
France. Designed to "enable the cyclist Lance Armstrong to dispel any unfounded
rumours," the testing is a flashback to 2005, when allegations
about the American's samples were made by French sports daily, L'Equipe.

On that occasion, the paper reported that "Recent analysis of samples
dating from the American's first Tour de France victory demonstrate that Lance
Armstrong had already consumed doping products." Armstrong was quick to
respond on that occasion, saying, "Yet again, a European newspaper has
reported that I have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. [Today's]
L'Equipe, a French sports daily, is reporting that my 1999 samples were
positive. Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and [the] article is nothing
short of tabloid journalism.

"The paper even admits in its own article that the science in question
here is faulty and that I have no way to defend myself. They state: 'There will
therefore be no counter-exam nor regulatory prosecutions, in a strict sense,
since defendant's rights cannot be respected. 'I will simply restate what I
have said many times: I have never taken performance enhancing drugs."

Armstrong cited the end result three years ago as evidence of why the case
should not be revisited now. The seven-time Tour champion made a point of reiterating
the reasons for his absolution in the matter and the contrary conduct of then-WADA
president, Dick Pound. He began by saying that, "Today, Mr. Pierre Bodry,
the new head of the French anti-doping agency, proposed that they retest samples
from the 1999 Tour de France. Unfortunately, Mr. Bodry is new to these issues
and his proposal is based on a fundamental failure to understand the facts.

"In 2005, some research was conducted on urine samples left over from
the 1998 and 1999 Tours de France. That research was the subject of an independent
investigation, and the conclusions of the investigation were that the 1998 and
1999 Tour de France samples have not been maintained properly, have been compromised
in many ways, and even three years ago could not be tested to provide any meaningful
results. There is simply nothing that I can agree to that would provide any
relevant evidence about 1999.

Just days after Armstrong had announced his return to professional cycling,
Dick Pound weighed into the
debate over the merits of the American's comeback. And as expected, it wasn't
complimentary. The outspoken Canadian told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf
that he wasn't convinced it was a clean return, saying, "With his comeback
not all doping accusations go away."

Therefore, as expected, Armstrong saved his greatest criticism for the man
who had most to say about the seven-time Tour champion during his career - from
the viewpoint of possible doping, at least. "In addition, the Independent
Investigation concluded that the French laboratory, the French Ministry of Sport,
and Dick Pound, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, all behaved
improperly with respect to the 1999 Tour de France samples. The Independent
Investigation concluded that both Mr. Pound and the French laboratory engaged
in improper conduct that violated a number of regulations and laws. After the
report of the Independent Investigator was issued, Mr. Pound's conduct was submitted
to the IOC Ethics Commission and the IOC Ethics Commission censured Mr. Pound.

It was an undisguised swipe at those who had created the headlines which led
to months of debate following the release of L'Equipe's story. He added that,
"What the Report of the Independent Investigation did recommend, was that
the issues of the conduct of Mr. Pound, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the French
Ministry, and the French laboratory should be submitted to an independent tribunal,
in particular the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Court for the entire Olympic
movement, to address the issues and improper conduct identified by the Independent
Investigator.

"Two years ago I agreed to have all of these issues aired and decided
by that tribunal, but WADA and the French Ministry refused. If Mr. Bodry would
now like to re-examine the past, he must start with presenting the issues of
the misconduct of the French laboratory, the French Ministry, and WADA before
a proper tribunal."

Armstrong had already retired following his seventh Tour title when
L'Equipe's story broke in August 2005, and the American's unforeseen
comeback was over three years away. At the time, however, chances were that
he imagined a retirement relatively free of cycling, let alone a return to the
professional peloton. His recent plans have instigated fresh action from those
parties involved in the 2005 episode, despite the supposed closure of it in
2006, as mentioned by Armstrong above.

The Austin, TX native is remaining firmly focused on the future, stating that,
"To avoid any questions going forward and to avoid any distractions from
my primary purpose to launch a global campaign against cancer, I am working
with the man who has been the leader of the world anti-doping community for
the past 25 years. I approached Dr. Don Catlin in August and proposed to him
that he should develop a comprehensive drug testing protocol, to test my blood
and urine as often as he believes is appropriate, in order for him to determine
categorically whether I have taken any performance-enhancing drugs.

"As I have stated, I have given Dr. Catlin my permission to post all of
my testing results on the internet. Dr. Catlin is developing a protocol that
will be available to other athletes who may want to subject themselves to such
a rigorous drug testing regimen that Dr. Catlin or other leading anti-doping
experts can determine whether they have used performance enhancing drugs."